China has announced the establishment of a science ethics
committee and a supervision office to stem academic fraud and
plagiarism, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology
(MOST).
The office is responsible for building up a fraud investigation
team, case discussion and handling, and handing down punishments
for science frauds, Mei Yonghong, director of the policy and
regulation department with MOST, told a regular press
conference.
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MOST released a set of trial rules to deal with scientific fraud
last November, which took effect on Jan. 1, 2007. The regulation is
regarded as first unified one of its kind to bring scientific
misconduct under the country's legal system.
The acts of falsifying resumes, plagiarizing works of others,
fabricating scientific data and violating regulations governing
research on humans and animals will incur punishments ranging from
a standard warning to disqualification from state science projects
for life, according to the regulation.
These efforts follow a string of scandals involving academic
fraud and plagiarism in the country as China continues to advocate,
and invest huge amounts in innovation.
Top scientist Chen Jin was sacked from the prestigious Shanghai
Jiaotong University last May for fabricating data relating to a
digital computer chip that was developed with state-funding.
A professor at the elite Tsinghua University in Beijing, Liu
Hui, was removed from his post in March for fabricating his
academic achievements and work experience.
Last April, Yang Jie, former director of the Life Science and
Technology Institute at the prestigious Tongji University in
Shanghai, was sacked after the veracity of his academic record was
questioned.
"We also plan to set up a team of experts from various fields
and countries to hold consultations and offer advice regarding
major scientific misconduct," said Mei.
(Xinhua News Agency January 19, 2007)